Thanks to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 witnessed the resurrection of drive-in and outdoor movie screenings to satiate the film buffs disillusioned by having to stream everything to their television or laptop. Fortunately, the era of enforced isolation has come to a close and many theaters have returned to pre-pandemic operations. There is, though, an ineffable charm unique to sitting in the comfort of your car or lawn chair on a balmy summer night while a classic plays on a massive outdoor screen.
For those longing to experience that magic once again, we’ve gathered the best drive-in and outdoor movie venues to see the most recent titles or older favorites all while luxuriating in the starlight. Since San Francisco’s drive-in/outdoor movie viewing options have become more limited post-COVID, the following venues are prime day-trip options.
See also: Community-Favorite Sundown Cinema Begins Summer With Extra-Special "Sister Act 2" Singalong
Solano Drive-In
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1611 Solano Way, Concord / Website
Concord’s West Wind Solano Drive-In has been the East Bay’s go-to drive-in spot since well before the onset of the pandemic, and comes equipped with all the amenities of an indoor theater. Rather than taking the crude approach of just blasting the film audio through huge speakers and asking everyone to roll their windows down, visitors can use their car radio to enjoy the movie while remaining sealed in their vehicle.
Two of the summer’s most bombastic blockbusters, Jurassic World: Dominion and Top Gun: Maverick, are now playing.
The Lark Theater: The Village at Corte Madera
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549 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur / Website
Resting in Marin County’s boujee Corte Madera, a scenic 20-minute drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, The Lark Theater brings indoor movies, drive-in screenings during the summers, live jazz, and even opera to the North Bay. On the itinerary for this summer are beloved classics ranging from Harrison Ford’s first turn as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark to Robert Zemeckis’s seminal Back to the Future. Check out the full calendar here.
Waterfront Flicks @ Jack London Square
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70 Washington St, Oakland / Website
Straddling the border between Oakland and Alameda is Jack London Square, one of the East Bay’s foremost dining and shopping locales. Though their summer outdoor movie series is regrettably not car-friendly, the screenings are superbly situated right on the waterfront, affording moviegoers a stunning San Francisco Bay view (in case the outdoor film wasn’t attention-grabbing already). The lineup for this summer features the best major titles of the past year, including the cultural reset that was Spider-Man: No Way Home and beautifully shot 2021 best picture nominee Dune.
Capitol Drive-In San Jose
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3630 Hillcap Ave, San Jose / Website
The sister theater of the Solano Drive-In, San Jose’s West Wind Capitol Drive-In Theater is a delightfully retro drive-in theater updated with modern refurbishments. Boasting double the number of viewing areas than its Concord counterpart, the Capitol is featuring the new Pixar outing Lightyear and Sam Raimi’s new mind-bending Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in addition to Jurassic World and Top Gun.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
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400 Beach St, Santa Cruz / Calendar
One of the Bay Area’s most easily recognizable landmarks, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s attractions include one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, a sprawling arcade, and, - fortunately for us - a sizable outdoor amphitheater sitting right on a picturesque strip of Santa Cruz Beach. In addition to live music, the area will be used to screen a series of adored 80s/90s throwbacks: among them are The Sandlot, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and the campy cult horror classic Little Shop of Horrors.
Whether your movie-viewing preferences entail the private, air-conditioned comfort of your station wagon or the salty, temperate air of summer evenings spent oceanside, the Bay Area’s small but mighty handful of drive-in and outdoor movie venues should mollify every film-buff, from the most casual to the most pretentious.
See also: Your Guide To The Most Anticipated Titles At The SF LGBTQ+ Film Festival This June
Photography by: Jonas/Unsplash
Thanks to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 witnessed the resurrection of drive-in and outdoor movie screenings to satiate the film buffs disillusioned by having to stream everything to their television or laptop. Fortunately, the era of enforced isolation has come to a close and many theaters have returned to pre-pandemic operations. There is, though, an ineffable charm unique to sitting in the comfort of your car or lawn chair on a balmy summer night while a classic plays on a massive outdoor screen.
For those longing to experience that magic once again, we’ve gathered the best drive-in and outdoor movie venues to see the most recent titles or older favorites all while luxuriating in the starlight. Since San Francisco’s drive-in/outdoor movie viewing options have become more limited post-COVID, the following venues are prime day-trip options.
See also: Community-Favorite Sundown Cinema Begins Summer With Extra-Special "Sister Act 2" Singalong
Solano Drive-In
View this post on Instagram
1611 Solano Way, Concord / Website
Concord’s West Wind Solano Drive-In has been the East Bay’s go-to drive-in spot since well before the onset of the pandemic, and comes equipped with all the amenities of an indoor theater. Rather than taking the crude approach of just blasting the film audio through huge speakers and asking everyone to roll their windows down, visitors can use their car radio to enjoy the movie while remaining sealed in their vehicle.
Two of the summer’s most bombastic blockbusters, Jurassic World: Dominion and Top Gun: Maverick, are now playing.
The Lark Theater: The Village at Corte Madera
View this post on Instagram
549 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur / Website
Resting in Marin County’s boujee Corte Madera, a scenic 20-minute drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, The Lark Theater brings indoor movies, drive-in screenings during the summers, live jazz, and even opera to the North Bay. On the itinerary for this summer are beloved classics ranging from Harrison Ford’s first turn as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark to Robert Zemeckis’s seminal Back to the Future. Check out the full calendar here.
Waterfront Flicks @ Jack London Square
View this post on Instagram
70 Washington St, Oakland / Website
Straddling the border between Oakland and Alameda is Jack London Square, one of the East Bay’s foremost dining and shopping locales. Though their summer outdoor movie series is regrettably not car-friendly, the screenings are superbly situated right on the waterfront, affording moviegoers a stunning San Francisco Bay view (in case the outdoor film wasn’t attention-grabbing already). The lineup for this summer features the best major titles of the past year, including the cultural reset that was Spider-Man: No Way Home and beautifully shot 2021 best picture nominee Dune.
Capitol Drive-In San Jose
View this post on Instagram
3630 Hillcap Ave, San Jose / Website
The sister theater of the Solano Drive-In, San Jose’s West Wind Capitol Drive-In Theater is a delightfully retro drive-in theater updated with modern refurbishments. Boasting double the number of viewing areas than its Concord counterpart, the Capitol is featuring the new Pixar outing Lightyear and Sam Raimi’s new mind-bending Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in addition to Jurassic World and Top Gun.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
View this post on Instagram
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz / Calendar
One of the Bay Area’s most easily recognizable landmarks, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s attractions include one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, a sprawling arcade, and, - fortunately for us - a sizable outdoor amphitheater sitting right on a picturesque strip of Santa Cruz Beach. In addition to live music, the area will be used to screen a series of adored 80s/90s throwbacks: among them are The Sandlot, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and the campy cult horror classic Little Shop of Horrors.
Whether your movie-viewing preferences entail the private, air-conditioned comfort of your station wagon or the salty, temperate air of summer evenings spent oceanside, the Bay Area’s small but mighty handful of drive-in and outdoor movie venues should mollify every film-buff, from the most casual to the most pretentious.
See also: Your Guide To The Most Anticipated Titles At The SF LGBTQ+ Film Festival This June
Photography by: Jonas/Unsplash
